| Fullname: | Matthew Lees |
| Birth Date: | 1998 2, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England |
| Height: | 1.88abbr=onNaNabbr=on |
| Weight: | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on |
| Club1: | St Helens |
| Year1start: | 2017 |
| Year1end: | present |
| Appearances1: | 147 |
| Tries1: | 5 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Fieldgoals1: | 0 |
| Points1: | 20 |
| Year2start: | 2018 |
| Appearances2: | 6 |
| Tries2: | 0 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Fieldgoals2: | 0 |
| Points2: | 0 |
| Teama: | England Knights |
| Yearastart: | 2018 |
| Yearaend: | 21 |
| Appearancesa: | 2 |
| Triesa: | 0 |
| Goalsa: | 0 |
| Fieldgoalsa: | 0 |
| Pointsa: | 0 |
| Teamb: | England |
| Yearbstart: | 2022 |
| Appearancesb: | 3 |
| Triesb: | 1 |
| Goalsb: | 0 |
| Fieldgoalsb: | 0 |
| Pointsb: | 4 |
| Source: | [1] |
| Updated: | 9 May 2024 |
Matty Lees (born 4 February 1998) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a for St Helens in the Super League[2] and the England Knights and England at international level.
He has spent time on loan from Saints at the Sheffield Eagles in the Betfred Championship.
Lees was signed by St Helens from amateur club Rochdale Mayfield at the age of 16.[3] He made his Super League and professional début on 7 September 2017 at Belle Vue against Wakefield. Saints won the game 16-18.
In 2018, he played for the Sheffield Eagles on Dual registration.[4] He made 19 appearances for Saints during the 2018 season, and was nominated for the Super League Young Player of the Year award.[5]
Lees signed a new three-year contract prior to the start of the 2019 season. Although his season was cut short after suffering a bowel injury,[6] he received another nomination for the Young Player of the Year,[7] and was this time voted as the winner of the award.[8]
He played for St Helens in their 8-4 2020 Super League Grand Final victory over Wigan at the Kingston Communications Stadium in Hull.[9]
On 17 July 2021, Lees played for St. Helens in their 26-12 2021 Challenge Cup Final victory over Castleford.[10] On 9 October 2021, Lees played for St. Helens in their 12-10 2021 Super League Grand Final victory over Catalans Dragons.[11] On 24 September 2022, Lees scored the fastest try in Super League Grand Final history after crossing over in the second minute of play during St Helens 24-12 victory over Leeds in the decider.[12] On 18 February 2023, Lees played in St Helens 13-12 upset victory over Penrith in the 2023 World Club Challenge.[13] Lees played 26 games for St Helens in the 2023 Super League season as the club finished third on the table. Lees played in St Helens narrow loss against the Catalans Dragons in the semi-final which stopped them reaching a fifth successive grand final.[14]
In July 2018 he was selected in the England Knights Performance squad.[15] Later that year he was selected for the England Knights on their tour of Papua New Guinea. He played against Papua New Guinea at the PNG Football Stadium[16] and the Oil Search National Football Stadium.[17]